FILNER
DRAWS
$160,000 LINE IN THE SAND

Proposed salary cap tied to tourism fund

Richard Rider, chairman of the San Diego Tax Fighters, disagreed with Filner that 42 is a paltry number and questioned why he picked the $160,000 figure, calling it “capricious” and “not thought out.”

“To me, it’s a lot,” he said. “These are public servants. The sad thing is, in California, that that’s not unusual. He just doesn’t do his homework. He throws figures out, he does not do research, and this is another example.”

Filner’s line in the sand would not affect all groups who receive funding from the tourism fee.

Among the 15 organizations that received money in 2010, tax documents show, were several with no salaries above $160,000.

Those included California State Games, which promotes amateur sporting events statewide, and the San Diego Crew Classic, which puts on the nation’s premier spring rowing regatta.

“I know this affects some organizations that receive money from the TMD,” said Crew Classic’s Martha Shumaker. “No one here receives that kind of compensation.”

The San Diego Bowl Game Association, which puts on the annual Holiday Bowl, had two employees above the $160,000 mark in its latest tax filings. The association’s board will likely discuss the issue at a previously planned Wednesday meeting, spokesman Mark Neville said.

“We are interested watchers in what’s going on,” he said.

It’s unclear, though, if Filner’s plans will materialize.

The Tourism Marketing District board called Filner’s salary cap and other provisions illegal and contrary to an agreement worked out last year, before he took office.

“Even if it could be accepted, it would irreparably damage the tourism economy and create even more instability for the over 160,000 San Diegans who work in tourism and hospitality services,” said the statement issued Monday by TMD Chairman Terry Brown, president of Atlas Hotels, which includes the Town & Country Hotel in Mission Valley. “We are disappointed that we have to seek a court order to compel the mayor to do something we and the City Council believe he is legally obligated to do.”

A court hearing is scheduled Friday on the TMD’s suit aimed at forcing Filner to sign that agreement, which would make Filner’s proposed changes moot and would set up Filner to appeal.

“If he (the judge) says sign, I’ll have to choose to sign it right there or appeal,” Filner said.

If the money continues to be held up because of this dispute, Filner said the big hotel owners could simply raise their rates and send the extra revenue to the privately run San Diego Tourism Authority, which gets most of its funds from the TMD to market San Diego. The authority has canceled an advertising campaign and issued layoff notices to most of its employees in case the money does not arrive.

“So ask the hotel owners why they want to strangle the economy of this city — don’t ask me,” Filner said.